REGISTER now to join Agriculture Victoria’s six-part hour-long lunchtime webinar series ‘managing seasonal variability’ beginning Wednesday, September 20 at 12.30pm with subsequent webinars running each Wednesday until October 25.

Agriculture Victoria’s program manager, meat and wool services, Jennifer Alexander said now was a great time for farmers to make plans for the upcoming season.

The webinar series will help famers to consider the following questions:

• What are the influencing climate drivers?

• What is your feed and water situation?

• How much water is stored in your soil?

• How many livestock can you carry if we have a drier than average spring?

• Do you have enough water?

• Do you have reserves of hay, silage and grain?

“Following a couple of wetter seasons now is a good time to consider longer-term strategies for dealing with a potentially hotter, drier and more variable climate,” Ms Alexander said.

Key areas that are crucial for preparing your farm for a variable climate will also be explored, including:

• Protecting your pastures and soil from over-grazing, whilst maintaining fit and healthy livestock

• The benefits of using a stock containment area to confine stock during a dry season

• Options for improving the water security and quality on farm, such as tapping into a rural pipeline, installing a bore or drought reserve dam, tanks and pipes or a desalination unit

• Use of silage pits as a longer-term drought reserve

Attendees are welcome to join one or all of the sessions and participate in discussions.

Go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-and-resources/event-listing/managing-seasonal-variability to register for the webinars or contact Clem Sturmfels at clem.sturmfels@agriculture.vic.gov.au